Cold, snow, wind, or rain… in all kinds of weather, snowdrops are in bloom during Candlemas! They symbolize the awakening of nature, the arrival of spring on Friday, March 20th at 4:49 a.m. Snowdrops don’t change; they appear in January and bloom in February.
The galanthus nivalis
The galanthus nivalis is its botanical name, which comes from the Greek gala for “milk” and anthos for “flower.” Its common name “snowdrop” refers to its small, white, droplet-shaped flowers.
Moderate collection
Snowdrops are part of the amaryllidaceae family; the entire plant is toxic (bulbs, leaves, flowers, seeds, vase water) because it contains alkaloids. Ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal disorders. In summary, collecting flowers should be done in moderation.
It’s better to photograph them and leave the flowers to the bees seeking the first nectar to end the winter. They are also toxic to ruminant animals that have the intelligence to avoid them. A considerable attribute for a bulbous plant that reproduces by seeds.
Attention when mowing
Cutting the plants after flowering prevents snowdrops from reproducing due to lack of seeds. Trimming green leaves decreases the bulbs’ ability to replenish their nutrient reserves and ensure flowering the following year.
In the following spring, the plant that has been cut by the lawn during its green period will produce leaves but not flowers. That’s why snowdrops appreciate a quiet corner under a lightly dense hedge. In the lawn, it’s also necessary to wait until the leaves turn yellow before cutting it.
Natural multiplication of snowdrops
Snowdrop seeds have elaiosomes, a kind of oil arranged on the outside of the seed. Ants attracted by this substance transport the seeds to their anthills to feed the larvae. Once the seeds are clean, the ants hide them outside the anthill to germinate and disperse them.
Bulb division
In autumn, snowdrops can be acquired in the form of small bulbs at nurseries. The bulbs are planted 5 cm deep in well-drained, non-clayey soil. The most common multiplication is done by dividing bulbs after flowering, separating the small bulbs to replant them in humus-rich soil and preferably exposed to partial shade. Two or three years later, new small white clumps will adorn the flowerbeds. It’s best to plant snowdrops at the edge of a lawn, under a fence, among old stones… as long as herbicide is never used.
